The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Osinbajo

  • Osinbajo, Emir of Kano meet in Aso Rock

    Osinbajo, Emir of Kano meet in Aso Rock

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo and the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, met behind closed-doors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday.

    The meeting, which started when the emir arrived State House at 2:42 p.m. ended at 4:50 p.m.

    Sanusi, however, declined to speak with State House correspondents on the purpose of his visit to the Villa.

    Instead, he exchanged pleasantries with some presidential aides and workers in the Vice Presidential wing of the State House.

    There was also no official statement on the meeting at the time of filing this report.

    The acting President had on Tuesday began series of meetings with stakeholders and leaders of thought from North and South East parts of the country over eviction notice given to Igbos in the north.

    While Osinbajo will meet with northern traditional rulers on Monday, he is also scheduled to meet with governors of the 36 states of the federation on a yet to be determined date.

    A bigger meeting with all stakeholders is also slated for June 22.

     

  • NASS has powers to alter budget – Dogara

    NASS has powers to alter budget – Dogara

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, on Thursday said the National Assembly has powers to alter national budget according to the desire of the citizens.

    He stated this during plenary after Abubakar Lawal (APC- Adamawa) drew the attention of the lower chamber to Acting President Yemi Osinbajo’s remarks on the matter.

    Osinbajo’s was quoted as saying the power of appropriation was vested with the executive arm of government.

    Dogara said it is left to the judiciary to interpret which arm of government has the powers to alter the budget according to the Constitution.

    He said: “This issue is left to the judiciary to interpret to us as to what arm of government has power to do what. For me, this is not an issue we should dwell so much on.

    “I don’t want to believe that the Acting President made that statement because when it comes to the budget, the power of the purse rests with the parliament.

    “The executive is just one man; every other person in the executive arm is answerable to the President alone. The relationship is that of master and servant, but for the parliament, it is that of equals.

    “Even, when the President hasn’t said anything, everyone is trying to read what the body language is; the basis of democracy is collaboration.

    “In the case of the budget, if the parliament disagrees with the executive, the worst that would happen is that they will refuse to sign the budget.

    “In that case, we can override the veto of the President and pass it into law.

    “The worse the executive can say is that they will not implement. The question then will be, is that the law of the land? Anyone with honour, who is in the seat, should know the right thing to be done.

    “In case of the executive, everyone knows the consequence and I don’t want to mention it by its name.

    “This house is not going to be a rubber stamp to the executive arm.

    “In the United States where we borrowed our Constitution from, once the President walks into the chamber with the budget proposal, it becomes dead on arrival.

    “It is therefore what the parliament decides that brings it back to life.

    “The priority of the people may not be that of the executive. This kind of talk is not helpful, so we shouldn’t even take a debate on the issue.”

    NAN

  • No plan to deregulate petroleum industry – Osinbajo

    No plan to deregulate petroleum industry – Osinbajo

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo said on Thursday the Federal Government  has no plan to deregulate the downstream sector of the petroleum industry.

    He said any attempt to deregulate the sector would lead to increase in prices of petroleum products, especially Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

    Osibanjo, who stated these during the 2017 African Modular Refinery Discussion, organized by the Modular Refiners Association of Nigeria (MRAN), said the plan would have serious consequences on the nation’s economy.

    He also condemned government’s involvement in the failure and near collapse of the Kaduna, Warri and Port Harcourt refineries.

    The acting President said in the  modular refineries initiative, oil producing communities would be made to acquire stakes in refineries set up in their locality, while federal government, state governments and private investors would have stakes in the projects.

    Osinbajo, who insisted that federal government is committed to creating an enabling environment for private sector participation and investments in modular refineries, said the government is aware of the challenges and complications posed by non-deregulation of the sector.

    He said complete deregulation of the petroleum sector would bring untold hardship on vast majority of Nigerians.

    He said, “There are those who are saying we need to deregulate fully. Why are they saying that? It is because if we do not deregulate, it is not cost effective for those who are producing PMS to sell. At the same time, if you deregulate completely, prices of everything else is going to go up.

    “So there are those complications, meaning we got to moderate all those things. Government has to come in at certain extent and this is what is currently going on, at least to try and balance things up. This is because we cannot have, just overnight, another massive deregulation. If you do that obviously, the consequences would be very dire for the economy.”

     

  • Senate won’t cede its constitutional powers to executive – Saraki

    Senate won’t cede its constitutional powers to executive – Saraki

    Senate President, Bukola Saraki, said on Thursday the Senate would never surrender its constitutional powers to the executive arm of government under any guise.

    Saraki noted that even when the upper chamber bends backward to accommodate issues such gesture should not be misconstrued to mean weakness or misinterpreted to mean that the constitutional powers assigned to the Senate do not exist.

    The Senate President was ruling on an Order raised by Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah, on whether or not the National Assembly has powers to alter the Appropriation Bill as presented by the Executive.

    The Senate, Saraki insisted, would continue to defend the Constitution and ensure that its actions are covered by the Constitution at all times.

    Na’Allah drew the attention of his colleagues to a statement credited to thy Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who said the National Assembly erred to have altered the 2017 Appropriation Bill.

    Osinbajo was quoted as saying the National Assembly has no right to introduce new projects or modify those contained in the Appropriation Bill.

    The acting President also expressed disappointment in the legislature for delaying the passage of the 2017 Appropriation Bill which he signed on Monday.

    Osinbajo said: “I am sure that we understand not just how to do it right, but to get it done in good time.

    “This last budget, the President presented it last December. Despite the assurances that it will be passed in by February, it was not passed until May.

    “As it turned out, we were quite disappointed that it spent a bit of time before it was approved. And thereafter, we had to go into negotiations with the National Assembly in order to get it right.

    “Now, there are these two broad issues about who can do what. The first report is about who can do what. When you present budget to the National Assembly, it is presented as a bill, an appropriation bill.

    “And secondly, do not introduce entirely new projects and all of that or modify projects. This is something that we experienced last year and this year again. It now leaves the question about who is supposed to do what.”

    Na’ Allah, who brought up the issue said, “I want to make a personal explanation on the media reports credited to the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, to the effect that the National Assembly does not possess any power to alter the budget submitted to it by the Executive. I offer explanation that we have operated this Constitution from 1999 to date.

    “I am sure that everybody who knows me knows that I have some limited understanding of the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I have also had the privilege to work with the Acting President while I was practicing in Lagos as a lawyer.

    “We did a lot of things together. So, he is somebody that I know so much, that I will rather believe that what was alleged to have been said could not have been said by him and even if he spoke on the matter, he was misquoted.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, this same Constitution we operated from 1999 to date has section 80, and the title of section 80 is “Power and Control over Public Funds.”

    “I read: All revenues or other monies raised or received by the Federation not being revenues of other monies payable under this Constitution or any Act of the National Assembly into any other Public Fund of the Federation established for a specific purpose shall be payable to and for one consolidated fund of the Federation.

    “Two says: No monies shall be withdrawn from the Consolidated revenue Fund of the Federation except to meet expenditure that is charged upon the Fund by the Constitution or where the issue of those monies has been authorised by an Appropriation Act, Supplementary Appropriation Act or Act passed in pursuance of Section 81 of the Constitution.

    “Three: No money shall be withdrawn from any public funds of the Federation other than the Consolidated revenue fund of the Federation unless the issue of those monies has been authorised by an Act of the National Assembly.”

     

  • We must condemn hate speeches – Osinbajo

    We must condemn hate speeches – Osinbajo

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday urged leaders across the country to speak out against hate speeches and divisive comments.

    He made the call during opening session of a meeting with leaders of thoughts from the South East, at the old Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja.

    Noting that the meeting was very urgent and crucial because of the current hate speeches and divisive comments across the country, the acting President said the situation requires urgent attention from all concerned.

    He stressed that it is not the time to hide under any ethnic or religious platform to support comments that divide rather than unite the nation.

    Osinbajo urged leaders to raise their voices against the present strident divisive speeches in the country, saying “violence pays no one.”

    “Violence and war are not going to do anyone any good. Wars today hardly end. No one who has seen the face of wars even on television will wish it for anyone. We should not tolerate hate speeches or divisive comments,” he said.

    He reiterated Federal Government’s resolve to deal with any trouble maker who threatens the peaceful coexistence of Nigeria.

    The acting President added: “There is no doubt on the resolve of government not to allow anyone get away with hate speeches and divisive words. Our emotion should not be allowed to run wide so as to threaten the existence of anyone anywhere in Nigeria.

    “We will do everything within our power to protect the lives of every citizen anywhere and in any part of the country.”

    While thanking the leaders for their prompt response to the consultative meeting, Osinbajo said he expects fruitful and frank deliberations at the meeting.

    Those at the meeting were – Senate President, Bukola Saraki; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, some state governors –  Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), David Umahi (Ebonyi), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Willie Obiano (Anambra), and Rochas Okorocha (Imo).

    Others are – the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari; Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu; National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno and other top government officials.

    Former Senate President, Ken Namani; Senator Eyinaya Abaribe, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Senator Joy Emodi, Prof. Viola Nwuleri.

     

     

  • Consultations vital to end ethnic crisis – Osinbajo

    Consultations vital to end ethnic crisis – Osinbajo

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has said consultation with ethnic leaders is vital to end crisis in the country.

    He disclosed this at a summit on promoting peace, democracy and stability organized by Journalists for Democratic Rights (JODER) held on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Osinbajo, who was represented by the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, said the presidency has commenced intensive consultations with stakeholders to douse tension created by some ethnic associations through their utterances.

    He added that the nation should see its socio-cultural differences as a source of strength rather than weaknesses, adding that any form of breakup will be costly.

    He said the Igbos had invested so much outside the Igboland and war is not the solution.

    “Nigerians should deepen social interactions and appreciate the positive sides of each other,” the acting President said.

  • Quit notice: Ag. President meets Northern leaders

    Quit notice: Ag. President meets Northern leaders

    • Okorocha slams Biafra agitators

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday read the riot act to purveyors of hate speeches, saying they won’t be allowed to destabilise the country.

    The Federal Government, he said, would ensure the country’s unity, adding that nobody would be allowed to get away with seditious speeches.

    “As a government, we are determined to ensure the unity of the country along the lines of our constitution and I want to say that hate and divisive speeches or divisive behaviour where it is illegal will be met with the full force of the law,” the Acting President said at a meeting with some elders from the North at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Some members of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), among other groups, were at the meeting.

    It was the first in the series of meetings with leaders from the six geo-political zones over the brewing discontent between the North and the Southeast.

    Last week, the Coalition of Northern Youths (CNY) gave easterners in the North 90 days to quit.

    The ultimatum followed the May 30 sit-at-home observed by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in the east to mark the 50th anniversary of Biafra.

    Similarly, Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha described as nonsensical agitations for Biafra.

    Osinbajo said those pushing for disintegration by ordering other Nigerians in their domains to quit would face the law.

    The government, he said, would not fold its arms and allow peace and order to be disrupted in any part of the country.

    The Acting President said: “Every form of violence, every form of hate speech, any stone that is thrown in the marketplace will hit targets that are going to be deadly. So I need us to be fully conscious of that and the Nigerian people must be made to be fully conscious of that so that we do not create a crisis that is not intended.

    As part of living together I know that misunderstandings and frustrations will always arise and people will always want to get the best part of the deal but we must be careful to recognise that we can only begin to talk about any part of anything if we are together in peace – Osinbajo.

    “These days, wars do not end and I am sure that those who have seen or experienced war in any shape or form will not wish it on their worst enemies.

    “This is not a time to retreat behind ethnic lines, moments like this are not for isolating ourselves, I want to urge all of us here and the entire Nigerian populace to come together and work together.”

    He added: “And I want to ensure that there is no doubt at all that it is the resolve of the government that none will be allowed to get away with making speeches that can cause sedition or that can cause violence especially because when we make these kinds of pronouncement and do things that can cause violence or destruction of lives and property we are no longer in control. Those who make those speeches are no longer in control.

    So, I want to emphasise that government will take very seriously any attempts to cause violence or disrupt the peace of this country. And that is very important because you cannot control violence once it begins.”

    At the meeting were ACF leader Ibrahim Coomassie, NEF leader Prof Ango Abdullahi, who gave his backing to the Arewa youths’ threat, former Sokoto State Governor,  Aliyu Wamakko, former Plateau State Deputy Governor Pauline Tallen,  Second Republic Minister and Benue State elder  Dr. Paul Unongo, Leadership publisher Sam Ndah-Isaiah, Liberty Radio/Television Chairman Tijani Ramalan and Editor-in-Chief of Daily Trust Dan Ali, among others.

    The acting President was supported by the Senate President Bukola Saraki, House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara and Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olanishakin.

    Today, Osinbajo will meet with leaders from the southeast; the region’s traditional rulers will take their turn on Friday. On Sunday, the acting president will meet with traditional rulers from the North.

  • Budget: National Assembly can’t introduce projects,  says Osinbajo

    Budget: National Assembly can’t introduce projects,  says Osinbajo

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday  declared that the National Assembly had no right to introduce new projects during consideration of national budgets.

    Osinbajo, who signed the 2017 budget into law on Monday, said that the National Assembly could only allocate funds for projects in the budgetary proposals submitted by the Executive.

    Osinbajo spoke on Tuesday during the flag-off of the 2018 budget and ERGP Implementation Plan Development Process organised by the Ministry of Budget and National Planning at the old Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja.

    He also harped on the need for all ministers, permanent secretaries and heads of government agencies to pay attention to the details of the budget.

    Noting that this year is very crucial, Osinbajo said President Muhammadu Buhari was very much concerned with the budget and its full implementation.

    He said: “Now there are these two broad issues about who can do what. When you present budget to the National Assembly, it is presented as a bill, an appropriation bill. Firstly, the National Assembly has the right to allocate funds to projects in the budget proposal.

    “And secondly, do not introduce entirely new projects and all of that or modify projects. This is something that we experienced this last year and again. It now leaves the question about who is supposed to do what.”

    He also pointed out that it was quite disappointing that the 2017 budget that was presented by the President last December and with assurances of passege by February,  was not passed until May.

    He said: “As it turned out we were quite disappointed that it spent a bit of time before it was approved.

    “And thereafter we had to go into negotiations with the National Assembly in order to get it right.”

    According to him, there is an agreement that the executive will be engaging with National Assembly members from the moment budget proposal is submitted.

    Osinbajo said that there was no need to wait for disputes to occur before the two arms of government start working on a budget.

    The Acting President spoke of efforts to return to the January – December life cycle for national budgets.

    To this end, Osinbajo said the 2018 budget proposal will be presented to the National Assembly by October so that it can be passed latest by December.

  • Osinbajo greets Abubakar at 75

    Osinbajo greets Abubakar at 75

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday congratulated former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd), on his 75th birthday.

    Osinbajo, in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, joined the family and friends of Gen. Abubakar in celebrating the significant milestone.

    He noted that Abubakar’s life has been marked by a distinguished career in the military and a remarkable role in the political history of Nigeria.

    Osinbajo recalled how the ex- Head of State supervised the transition from military to democratic rule in Nigeria and commended his determination and forthright resolve that ended 16 years of military dictatorship.

    More recently, Gen. Abubakar’s contributions and intervention in midwifing a peaceful hand over of power by a ruling party to an opposition party after the 2015 elections, reflected his deep sense of patriotism, service to nation and commitment to Nigeria’s progress and development,” the acting President said.

    Osinbajo also extolled the readiness of the former Head of State in accepting to serve as United Nations and African Union’s envoy promoting peace and good governance in Africa.

  • Secession agitators will be punished – Osinbajo

    Secession agitators will be punished – Osinbajo

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday said those pushing for disintegration of Nigeria by issuing quit notice to other Nigerians in their domain would face the full wrath of the law.

    He said the government would not fold its hands and watch disruption of peace and order in any part of the country.

    Osinbajo stated these during a closed door meeting with some leaders from the North, including some members of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), at the old Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja.

    Those at the meeting were – the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Speaker of the House of Representative, Yakubu Dogara, Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olanishakin, Chairman of Arewa Consultative Forum and former Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Comassie, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, former governor of Sokoto State, Aliyu Wamako, former Deputy Governor of Plateau State, Pauline Tallen, Publisher of Leadership Newspapers, Sam Ndah-Isaiah, Paul Unongo,  AVM Murkar and Chairman Liberty Radio/Television, Tijani Ramalan and the Editor- in -Chief of Daily Trust, Dan Ali, among others.

    The meeting was aimed at checking any crisis that may arise from recent quit notice issued by Arewa youths to Igbos in northern part of the country.

    Osinbajo said: “Every form of violence, every form of hate speech, any stone that is thrown in the market place will hit targets and that could be deadly. So I need us to be fully conscious of that and the Nigerian people must be made to be fully conscious of that so that we do not create a crisis that is not intended.

    “In the course of living together I know that misunderstandings and frustrations will always arise and people will always want to get the best part of the deal. But we must be careful to recognize that we can only begin to talk about any part of anything if we are together in peace.

    “These days, wars do not end and I am sure those that had seen or experienced war in any shape or form will not wish it on their worst enemies.

    “This is not a time to retreat behind ethnic lines, moments like this are not for isolating ourselves. I want to urge all of us here and the entire Nigerian populace to come together and work together.

    “As a government we are determined to ensure the unity of the country along the lines of our constitution and I want to say that hate and divisive speech or divisive behavior where it is illegal will be met with the full force of the law.”

    “And I want to ensure that there is no doubt at all that it is the resolve of the government that none will be allowed to get away with speeches that can cause sedition or that can cause violence. This is because when we make these kinds of pronouncement and do things that can cause violence or destruction of lives and property we are no longer in control.

    “Those who make those speeches are no longer in control.

    “So I want to emphasize that government will take very seriously any attempts to cause violence or disrupt the peace of this country. And that is very important because you cannot control violence once it begins.”